Defeat Greg Ryberg's Big Brother proposal!

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina General Assembly begins its new session today.

And it is bad enough that we must be worried about a draconian abortion ultrasound bill.

Now, comes something that may be even worse.

A proposal by Sen. Greg Ryberg of Aiken would tax every checkup for people with a BMI of more than 21.0. This is Big Brother controlling our lives at its absolute worst.

While Sen. Ryberg is considering this draconian bill, consider this: there are now more people who are anorexic (a BMI of less than 18.0) than obese (BMI of 30.1 or more). But, the trend of obese people is slowly reversing (and the trend most likely won't completely reverse for at least another 30 years). However, as that happens, the number of people who are now classified as anorexic are increasing at a rapid pace.

And who can you blame for the spike in anorexia nervosa?

We got many people, media and others to blame for the anorexia nervosa epidemic.

First off, Hollywood, CA. We blame them for the anorexia epidemic because it is their promotion of anorexia that has led to the latter part of Gen Y (1996-2001) being so thin.

Next, the Augusta (GA) Chronicle. Just like Hollywood, they have never once mentioned the anorexia epidemic in their newspaper.

And finally, the tabloids. Remember that photo of Tyra Banks that was taken in 2006? Well, just days later, Ana Carolina Reston died from anorexia, the biggest name to have died from being too thin since Karen Carpenter in 1983. Adi Barkan, a photographer, has actively campaigned against the use of models with a BMI of less than 18.0 in his homeland of Israel. But, because of the "tabloid culture" that runs rampant here, Mr. Barkan have very few supporters in the States.

If so many of people my age were not anorexic, then there wouldn't be a need to lower the age limit to 17 for blood donations. Quite frankly, I don't think anyone under the age of 21 should be giving blood. And since blood is in very short supply, we need to tell the anorexic adults to gain weight (minimum weight to donate blood is 130 pounds).

And being unable to donate blood isn't the only problem with being anorexic. There are others as well, including: reduced periods in women, impotence in men, reduced white blood cells, reduced immune system function, easy to bruise, slow growth of breast size, perfectionism, depression, and being aggressive when forced to eat "forbidden" foods like fast food.

And people wonder why South Carolina is one of the worst states when it comes to governing.

I'll say the same thing to the South Carolina state government and the Augusta Chronicle that Ms. Banks said to the tabloids on her talk show in early 2007: KISS MY FAT ASS!!!